ents and a local state representative when
Freedom of Expression
· Mira Loma--In June high school senior
it considered adding graphic details
about different types of sexual activity to
Joshua Denhalter sued the Jurupa Valley
its sex education curriculum for grades
Unified School District after he was sus-
68. Parents and state representative
pended for wearing an anti-illegal immi-
Laura Knaperek (R-Tempe) demanded
gration T-shirt with a picture of Uncle
that the board's final decision on the
Sam on it and the words "Illegal Aliens
changes be postponed until after the
We Don't Want You!" and handing out
summer, when many families were away,
fliers about an off-campus rally on the
so that parents could get a chance to read
same subject. His actions were in
them. Board vice president Ross Robb
response to a school-sponsored assembly
gave some indication of why the Board
Denhalter felt had turned into a rally in
might have been rushing to approve the
support of immigrant rights.
new curriculum: "The likelihood of hav-
Denhalter believes his free speech
ing something everyone can agree on is
rights were violated by the school. "The
going to take a lot of work. It's a topic that
question you have to ask yourself is
transcends everyone's personal beliefs."63
this," Denhalter told the Los Angeles
Times, "what is the 1st amendment
worth to you?" District officials, howev-
Arkansas
er, saw the situation much differently.
Freedom of Expression
· Springdale--When an early afternoon
"This district is concerned with safety
and security of students first without
march to protest proposed changes to
regard to race or point of view," said
federal immigration laws had students
Superintendent Elliott Duchon.66
marching down a main thoroughfare on
· Oceanside--A lunchtime confrontation
April 7, several Springfield residents
called city hall to complain that students
between police and Oceanside High
should be in school. Despite the fact that
School students who were trying to leave
they were exercising their free speech
school to join late-March immigration
rights, several students who took part in
protests culminated in 224 suspensions.
the march were cited for truancy.64
In April, the National Lawyers Guild said
that those suspensions were illegal
because many of the students were
California
charged with truancy, which according to
Intelligent Design
· Lebec--At a special January 1 meeting,
the state Education Code cannot be pun-
ished by suspension. Oceanside superin-
the El Tejon Unified School District
tendent Ken Noonan disputed the
approved a one-month, elective course
guild's accusation, saying that the stu-
called "Philosophy of Design," which
dents were suspended for defiance of
would have discussed evolution and "the
authority, not truancy. Regardless, Kate
scientific, biological and biblical aspects
Yavenditti of the guild's San Diego
that suggest why Darwin's philosophy is
branch asserted that the issue was ulti-
not rock solid." Proponents of the
mately much more basic: "Really what
course asserted that because it was called
they're doing is punishing kids for politi-
a "philosophy" class it would be legal. A
cal speech and political actions."67
group of 11 parents, however, disagreed,
· Fallbrook--On the heels of the troubles in
and contacted Americans United for the
Separation of Church and State to bring
Oceanside, many California schools took
a suit against the district. On January 17,
extra precautions to guard against immi-
faced with the legal action, the district
gration protest-related disturbances. At
cancelled the elective course.65
Fallbrook High School, this allegedly led
18